Water resources recovery facilities (WRRFs) are sources of direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by biological processes and indirect GHG emissions due to the energy consumed to operate the plant. The direct emissions also contribute to odour issues of WRRFs. Aeration of the biological tanks accounts for 50-60% of the total energy consumption of a WRRF and is therefore the major source of indirect GHG emissions.

   The optimized management of oxidation processes is consequently associated with environmental and economic benefits. The innovative solution proposed in this study consists of an automated self-moving prototype (LESSDRONE) for real-time monitoring of oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) and of GHG emissions from the aerated tanks during operation, and a protocol for converting LESSDRONE measures and specific WRRF data into actions aimed at minimizing carbon footprint (CF) and energy demand.

   As many of you know, there was an active CEN group dealing with the standardisation of a procedure to validate the use of IOMS (Instrumental Odour Monitoring System) for odour measurements. Still, after 20 meetings over six years, the group ended the time assigned without presenting a final draft standard for voting to the TC 264 "Air Quality".

   The good news is, however, that the CEN Technical Committee 264 on Air Quality has re-introduced a new Work Item (WI) on the agenda. This WI  re-starts the standard drafting process in WG 41 with a new fresh timeline. UNI (Italian National Standardisation body) is now responsible for continuing the work performed until now by the Dutch Standardization Body NEN.